Crowdfunding: The Trekking Pole Reimagined

Uphill Designs has created a Kickstarter campaign to create a better trekking pole. The Trekking Pole Reimagined are looking to create bamboo trekking poles, that are stronger than aluminum and as light as carbon fiber.

"In 2013, Dan Sedlacek set out hiking from Mexico to Canada along the Pacific Crest Trail. He made much of his own hiking gear for the simplicity and freedom it offered. 101 days and 2,700 miles later he knew he would found Uphill Designs.

At the University of Washington, Dan teamed up with fellow engineer Mounica Sonikar and business student David DeBey. Together, they've spent months designing, building, and testing and are pretty proud of what they've created: Uphill Trekking Poles are the first trekking poles that prioritize naturally-sourced, environmentally friendly materials. Not only are Uphill Trekking Poles made from 95% sustainable materials, a percentage of sales will always be returned to the communities that support us. 

We have sourced each part of the pole from suppliers and are ready to purchase the specialty molds for our tips and joints. We just need you."

Combining Bamboo (For the same amount of bending strain, aluminum permanently deformed while bamboo did not.), Cork (Natural channels in cork serve to wick moisture away from the contact surface, without absorbing into the cork cells) and biodegradable tips, this hiking pole also goes one step further by being the first collapsable bamboo pole.

The campaign seeks $10,000 by Saturday, December 20th. Stay connected with the campaign by following them on Facebook and Twitter.